Speech by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Head of Delegation, Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim at the Haj 2026 Pre-Departure Session

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim

Mr Mohamed Sa’at Abdul Rahman, President of MUIS,

Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Mufti of Singapore,

His Excellency, Mr Mohammad Abdullah Alghamdi,

Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Republic of Singapore,

Hj Tengku Mustafa Jumat, President of Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS),

Senior MUIS colleagues, respected Haj pilgrims, ladies and gentlemen

Assalamualaikum wr wb

Welcome address

1. I am happy to be here with all of you today at this Haj Pre-Departure Session.

2. For many of you, this moment has been years, perhaps even decades, in the making. It is a deeply personal, deeply meaningful milestone, and something you have been preparing for with much patience and hope.

Arrangements for Haj 2026 season

3. This year, 900 pilgrims from Singapore will embark on this important journey to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam. You will not be making this journey alone. We will walk this journey with you, every step of the way.

4. I am humbled to share with you that I will be joining you for this year's Haj as the Head of Delegation, alongside our teams from MUIS, AMTAS and the Singapore Pilgrims' Affairs Office (SPAO).

5. We will be there to support you on the ground, ensure that your Haj is as safe, smooth, and well-supported as possible. Your safety and well-being are, and will always, remain our top priority.

6. I recognise that for some of you, the anticipation for Haj is not without its anxieties, especially given the developments in the Middle East. This is completely understandable. We hear these concerns through our engagements with pilgrims, families and community leaders, including our Malay/Muslim MPs, and have taken them seriously in strengthening preparations for this year’s Haj. I want to assure you that the preparations for this year’s Haj have been underway for some time.

Critical safety guidelines and regional assessment

7. MUIS has been working closely with AMTAS, our appointed Haj travel agents, service providers and our partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), including the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU), to prepare for this year’s pilgrimage. I also visited Saudi Arabia last November to personally meet Saudi officials and discuss our preparations. Those engagements gave me confidence that the necessary arrangements were already being put in place early for Singapore pilgrims.

8. As the situation in the Middle East evolved, MUIS and its partners did not stand still. They continued to monitor situations very closely, and review the preparations carefully to strengthen coordination, and put in place additional measures and contingency plans.

9. A strong system has also been established to look after your health, safety and well-being throughout the pilgrimage, so that you can focus on your ibadah with peace of mind. These include a dedicated SPAO team on the ground, medical support readily available in Saudi Arabia, and digital tools such as the PilgrimSG app which can be used for emergency assistance and real-time communications. AMTAS will share more details on these arrangements shortly.

10. We will continue to take a measured and careful approach, as the situation in the Middle East remains dynamic. InsyaAllah, we will do our best, remain watchful, and go through this journey together.

11. I would also like to encourage each of you to stay updated on the latest developments and continue preparing yourselves well. The days of Haj, from the 8th to 13th of Zulhijjah, are the most intensive and physically demanding. Take care of your health, follow the guidance of our team and the Saudi authorities, and lean on the support around you whenever you need to.

12. Above all, I hope you can embark on this journey with a sense of calm and confidence, knowing that the necessary support is in place – so that you can focus on what matters most: your ibadah.

Allow me to continue my address in Malay.

Yang Berbahagia Hadirin dan Hadirat sekalian,

Sokongan perubatan dan keselamatan jemaah

13. Saya tahu ramai jemaah, termasuk ahli keluarga anda, mempunyai kebimbangan yang wajar, lebih-lebih lagi dengan perkembangan semasa di Timur Tengah.

14. Kebimbangan ini kami dengar dengan jelas melalui interaksi bersama jemaah, keluarga dan para pemimpin masyarakat, termasuk Anggota Parlimen Melayu/Islam. Kami mengambil kira maklum balas anda, dan memandang serius mengenainya - dalam kita memperkukuhkan persiapan bagi musim Haji tahun ini.

15. Seperti tahun-tahun sudah, persiapan rapi telah dimulakan dari awal lagi. Banyak usaha telah diikhtiarkan supaya para jemaah dapat berangkat dengan lebih yakin dan tenang. Kesihatan dan keselamatan anda di Tanah Suci akan sentiasa menjadi keutamaan kami.

16. Pasukan kami akan bersama anda sepanjang perjalanan ini. Sokongan perubatan juga disediakan. Aplikasi PilgrimSG pula boleh digunakan untuk bantuan kecemasan dan penyebaran maklumat penting.

17. Kami juga terus memantau perkembangan terkini di Timur Tengah. Dalam masa yang sama, kami terus berhubung rapat bersama pihak berkuasa di Arab Saudi.

18. Pelan kontingensi juga telah disediakan sekiranya perkara yang tidak diingini berlaku. Kami akan memastikan anda sentiasa mendapat maklumat dan informasi terkini. Inilah komitmen saya kepada anda.

19. Harapan kami - agar segala usaha ini memberi ketenangan hati bagi jemaah kami. Kita telah berusaha sebaiknya. Selebihnya, kita berdoa dan tawakal agar perjalanan kita dipermudahkan, dan ibadah kita diterima kelak.

Allow me to conclude in English.

20. Where we stand today reflects our ongoing efforts to better support our Muslim community.

21. From early preparations to our partnerships on the ground, each step has been taken to ensure a smooth and meaningful Haj experience for all of you.

22. As you embark on this sacred journey, let us continue to uphold the good reputation that Singapore pilgrims have established in the Holy Land through our conduct, discipline and consideration for others. I look forward to journeying alongside all of you for this ibadah.

23. On behalf of MUIS and AMTAS, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a safe and blessed journey. May your Haj be filled with ease, may you receive abundant spiritual rewards, and may Allah s.w.t. grant us all Haj Mabrur, InsyaAllah.

Thank you.